Maternity Fashions

My good friend Elle is expecting her first little bundle of joy sometime in March. [Insert shouts of joy.]

A couple of weeks ago, she really started to pop out of her regular clothes and was in desperate need of some maternity clothes. Since I’m on a self-imposed, Dave Ramsey-inspired shopping diet (sniff, sniff), I jumped at the opportunity to become Elle’s personal shopper for the day.

So fun! I got to pick out clothes, piece together outfits, and buy, buy, buy!
All without spending a dime.

… Anyone out there need a personal shopper?

Well anyways, it didn’t take long for us to figure out that just like regular clothes, some maternity fashions work… and some don’t. So today for your shopping pleasure, Elle and I are going to share with you three maternity fashion tips.

#1: Be wary of leggings.

You are a very fortunate soul indeed if you have the hips and thighs to pull off this look. But, please. No one wants to see your tush hanging out – even if you’ve done more Buns of Steel DVDs than you care to count. Wear a long tunic or sweater over those leggings, girls!

Heidi Klum designs for A Pea in a Pod, and of course this model she chose is especially thin and beautiful. But normal, non Heidi Klum-like women, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. And buy a long tunic.

#2: Dress up the girls.

A great way to look stylish – and not huge – is a little detailing to draw the eyes away from your expanding belly, hips, and thighs. V-Necks work wonders, as do cowl necks and patterns above the waist, as Elle so gracefully demonstrates below.

But please, avoid square tops like this at all costs. You’ll regret it. I’ll admit I like the idea in theory, but it’s just not flattering on anyone, not even on this especially gorgeous model.

Good rule of thumb: Don’t wear clothes that make you look huge. It’s that simple.

#3: Work the empire waist!

This is the time to show off that baby belly, and what better way to do that than with empire waist dresses?

Elle picked up a gorgeous red dress that’ll be perfect for Christmas. It cinches around the waist and has lots of flexibility to comfortably accommodate her growing belly. The cap sleeves are a sweet touch and add to the youthfulness of this great dress. Doesn’t she look radiant?

For summer or more casual occasions, you can always go with a gorgeous, soft-knit dress like this one. It looks amazingly comfortable and stylish at the same time – critically important for all maternity fashions.

You can shop these and more maternity fashions at Target, GAP, Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in a Pod, and now, Ann Taylor Loft! Let’s celebrate the one time in our lives we can be proud of having bulging bellies!

What are your favorite maternity fashions, or your favorite maternity retailers?

Unfortunately, none of these fine retailers sponsored this post.

Cita is a Peruvian-born, Floridian-bred, aspiring Michigander. Recently wed to the most handsome man on earth, she blogs anonymously on Cita Online. She is currently accepting requests for personal shopping.